I've driven by a few time and always see a crowd. I finally had time to stop and foot a try. I never found the right entrance but that was fine as the young waiter said you could pick up a chair and crash through the glass to find your way in if you wanted. Well I wanted but entered through the stage. I sat outside in the shade and it was very comfortable and surprisingly not that noisy with traffic, much to my delight. Weather was great! I had lovely service and although I was dressed haphazardly as I only brought winter cloths in tights and a shirt I picked up at a secondhand store as, surprise, it's hitting the high 70's today ! I ordered tomato bisque and a side of French bread. I asked for balsamic oil and was met with blank stares from the young man and his trainee but he was good and quickly asked for an explanation of what it was and after my disbelief that an Italian place didn't have it, I was served a little bowl(without oil) of a balsamic reduction. Well, that was alright for me and waited for hue bread and soup while I eavesdropped and a watch the college kids walk by. The tomato bisque with bread, olive oil, a mountain of garlic and a balsamic reduction soon was served and I did not go away hungry!! Lovely place! read more

Stomping Grounds - Tomato bisque with bread, olive oil, a mountain of garlic, and a balsamic reduction. - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

My friend and I came here for brunch and were not disappointed. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the nice weather. I had the gnocchi which was very tasty. The sauce is creamy and rich and I savored every bite. I also had a vanilla laté which came in a fun mug that seems hand crafted. My friend enjoyed the BLT and her matcha laté as well. Our waitress was very kind and attentive. Very sweet girl who is newer and doing a fantastic job. There were so many great things on the menu and will definitely come back and try another dish. The photos on Yelp seem to be for a previous business. Unfortunately I did not snap any photos while I was there but here is a few shots of the dinner menu. read more

See all

We delighted in a brunch at this near campus town restaurant. We had Ham & Gruyére croissant, and Berry Mascarpone crêpe. Would have given it more stars if they hadn't have charged me for another table's meals. Took a little bit of extra time to get Credit Card reversal but at least they were punctual in getting this resolved. read more

Stomping Grounds - Ham & Gruyére croissant, and Berry Mascarpone crêpe - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

This review covers the now combined Stomping Grounds Cafe and the Tosca Restaurant, both running within the same space within the Welch Avenue Address (near the ISU campus town). The former stand alone Bar la Tosca was previously located in Downtown Ames. My 94 year-old Dad and I stopped by for Lunch recently. Minus Slow service out of the Kitchen. +/- 1. Perhaps a little pricey for the quantity of food provided. 2. There are certainly a number of items on the menu, but found myself (at least for Lunch) wanting a little more variety. Yet, I'm not sure for what. Plus 1. Available metered parking just outside the restaurant. 2. Friendly table service. 3. Comfortable table service and inviting bar area. 4. Tasty sandwiches. I had a ham/cheese croissant choice, while Dad ordered a Muffuletta. I appreciated the nice salad that went with my order. read more

Went here as a busy college student to get work done while sipping on some caffeine. The staff was nice and let us know where the outlets were and how to access the wifi. Since it has a bar, it could get loud, but ''twas chill at 10:30am on a Saturday. I got the latte mocha and it was too good to take little sips of, I damn near drank the whole thing in 10 minutes while working on homework. Food's a bit pricey. I'd go there again. read more

Great food. Nice patio. Good service. Whenever we visit Ames, we always make it a point to stop by here.

This is always a go-to spot when we are in Ames. Cool vibe & great service. Breakfast / Lunch on a fall football weekend is always a treat for the entire family. Food is always great - the mushroom toast is a fam favorite and the crafts beers are on point!!! read more

Great cozy cafe environment with nice plants and friendly staff. However, if you are coming for coffee, don't. We ordered 2 cappuccinos which came 1/2 full of pure white foam and flavorless , pretty undrinkable. The food seemed pretty good but we didn't order any. Overall not the place for coffee but had a good environment. read more

Stomping Grounds - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

I've been going to stomping grounds for yeeears. The summers are great because of the patio seating. And they also put up some neat artwork made from local artists. This place is just a cute little location to meet up with friends and chat. It's so close to campus too. I love getting their desserts here, specifically the cakes, crepes, and milkshakes! During the cold season, if you ridiculously love chocolate and sweets (like me), I recommend Olivia's Hot Chocolate, it is incredibly rich and creamy. Or alternatively, any of their hot teas. This place okay to work on stuff in. I wouldn't really recommend it due to the complete lack of outlets and that sometimes it can get pretty loud. But if you're having a book club meeting or something, I don't think you would have a hassle. I think this place is just better suited for sitting down to chat w friends while enjoying some tea and sweets. read more

Awesome brunch spot!! Great coffee options, as well as other morning beverages. Such a cute place located just off of ISU's campus. Indoor & outdoor seating available! read more

Stomping Grounds - two plates of food on a table - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

Went for Sunday brunch. The food was delicious, I highly recommend the meatballs. The coffee and hot chocolate were also amazing. The restaurant's ambiance was also very good, it's the perfect spot for Sunday brunch. read more

Came here for brunch one afternoon and was pleasantly surprised! Very tasty dishes and a decent menu selection. Overall a cute spot to visit if you're looking for brunch with friends! read more

Stomping Grounds - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Stomping grounds is probably one of my favorite places in Ames. The seating inside or out is just quintessential cozy cafe/coffee house. The staff is always great and the place is clean. The coffee and tea drinks are great and you have to try the hot cocoa in the fall in winter along with their soups. read more

I went here for dinner with a friend I hadn't seen since high school. I got the pan-roasted Amish chicken, which was a large portion for the price in Ames. It also had some kick with the spicy pork-piri sauce. Our server was sweet, however she checked in infrequently on our beverages. Additionally, I went to the bar prior to my friend arriving and was interested in ordering a drink. However, the bar tending insisted it was fake and said "I don't buy it." I asked if I could provide any more information as I am fully aware I look young, but he simply repeated the same phrase. I understand denying my id as I look on the younger side, but the bluntness and lack of niceties from the bartender were off putting. I can't speak as to this place for coffee and breakfast. As for dinner, I can say that this place was underwhelming, especially after hearing people talk about this place so often. read more

This place makes me wish I lived in Ames! My cafe mocha was pure perfection. Rich and smooth, and they even put a cute little leaf design on top. It was exactly what I wanted on a chilly, rainy morning. Where Stomping Grounds gets it right is that they didn't just decided to offer food to offer food. So many other coffee-oriented cafes have food as an after thought and often don't do it even to a basic level of mediocrity. Stomping Grounds food was just as amazing as their coffee, a feat I have not experienced in the metro area yet. My ham and gruyere croissant was one of the best breakfast foods I had ever had. Full stop. This place is perfect for a friendly chit-chat session, an anniversary breakfast, coffee with visiting family, or even a date. read more

See all

How does this place not have 5 stars? This is hands down one of the best places for almost anything near campus and in town more generally. Solid cocktail menu. Excellent coffee. Decent beer list. Really good food. It's comfy and spacious. I must have missed its less vibrant versions in the past. read more

I tried their pork appetizer, it was good 5/5. I had their fettucine and was 4/5. Little too creamy. The drinks are of variety for all tastes, and their wine menu is good. I liked Rosé white wine. Ambiance is chill during summer , busier during college seasons for those who are curious. Service at bar was top notch! read more

Cool place, nice staff! I got a maple syrup crepe and a latte, so delicious! It wasn't busy at all, I'm guessing because it's Sunday, so I got my food in no time. I'll definitely stop by again! read more

Stomping Grounds - Love the paintings - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

TLDR: Meh. Cozy seating, overpriced, good drip (Try the Ethiopian drip if you get a chance!), cute mugs, bitter mocha syrup (worst in Ames), terribly fruity espresso, friendly staff (not knowledgeable in coffee, however), NO OUTLETS, plenty of seating, good location, big menu, acceptable bathrooms, table side service, small portions of food, alcohol options. While hardly anything about stomping grounds ever impresses me, I find myself returning monthly. This is mostly due to the household name this coffee shop has developed in Ames, as well as the centrality in Ames. Everyone is within 10 minutes of this shop. There is reliable seating perfect for studying, meetups, and first dates. The lighting is perfect and I love the couches in the back! Just don't order any food. It tastes good, but you'll be unimpressed with their prices and small portions. All in all, check out this place, just lower your expectations. This restaurant has some 5/5 qualities but severely lacks in too many parts for an enthusiastic recommendation. Stomping Grounds has the potential to be a contender in coffee but they got a lot to work on for my recommendation. Remember: Charge your devices!! read more

I love coming to the Stomping Grounds! They have amazing drinks and food. The prices are affordable and the service has always been good. read more

Stomping Grounds - Butter crepe - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

My review will be 3.5 stars rounded down. This was my first time coming here. This was a French style cafe spot so naturally I was expecting French level snobbery as it pertained to service and food prep. I was hoping for my waitress to tell me I was American scum and proceed to serve me the greatest French brunch cuisine west of Europe. Too bad I never got to see my waitress but maybe once or twice. It took 12min just to have her approach my table to even take my order and after she finally did, her nice disposition and gentle tone of voice did not bode well for my French cafe expectations. I ordered the Cuban and found the pork to be drier than a Popeyes biscuit, very little to no mustard, and the cheese was melted only on one side of the sandwich. I was very disappointed and will definitely not be coming back any time soon. read more

A fun and extensive tea menu and great, delicious fresh food. Mushroom toast was a delight. BLT and burger both excellent with a yummy salad on the side. Tomato bisque and a winter green salad was delish. Will go back for sure! read more

Good food. Good espresso. Great service. My apologies to our server, Marleigh. On a table of 6 for full breakfast, we only paid half tip! My son and I got confused as to who was leaving tip. Later in the day we realized we unintentionally short-tipped by half! Our server, Marleigh, probably thought we were unhappy with her service. Absolutely not! Marleigh was very sweet and extremely helpful with service. Please accept our apologies. I called this morning and spoke with Angels. I put the remaining due tip in the the mail today to the restaurant. read more

My go-to college cafe. Great for working and meeting up with friends, but be sure to have a fully charged phone and computer as they don't have outlets. They've upped their prices and changed out the cozy couches for upscaled booths and the bar area over the past few years :( but still, my favorite place to get coffee in Ames! read more

Such a great place to relax and catch up with friends. Very chill atmosphere with seating outdoors in the warm months. I have visited many times and always enjoyed my food. The crepes are great as well as the breakfast options and Italian sodas. My go-to breakfast option is the crepe combo with a peppermint steamer in the winter and a peach raspberry Italian soda in the summer. read more

Stomping Grounds - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

The crepes are AMAZING!! The service is quick and the servers are super friendly. I love going in the summer and sitting on the patio and having a coffee. read more

I've come here a couple times for coffee to meet up with new people and talk, and it's always been fantastic. The interior and the "vibe" here is definitely very hipster/college-student/artsy. The paintings on the wall can be purchased, and I imagine they're done by local student artists (but they look nice). There are interior tables to sit at, and I think they have tables that easily fit 6 without rearranging. I can't remember if there's any music, but if there is, it's very gentle and quiet. This is one of those places you can easily come and talk. There's a gentle buzz of conversation from other tables, but you'll never feel like you can't actually "hear" the other person. It's a nice, laid-back vibe. I've never actually sat down and ordered food here, so I can't really comment much on the wait staff or the wait. I always get a cup of coffee and sit down instead of ordering food. During the ordering process, though, the staff is usually friendly enough, and my coffee is made within a minute, so I've never had any issue with the staff. As for what I get, I always get their Mocha Milkshake, and my god, it's delicious. It takes awhile to sit and drink which is perfect because I'm sitting and having a conversation anyway. They have the outdoor patio as well, and aside from the annoyance of loud people on Welch (depending on your night), it's quite nice out there as well. Parking is a bit of a pain and does require paying parking meters unless you park quite a ways away from the restaurant. Even with the metered parking, though, depending on what time you come, there may be no parking spots available. Final thoughts: I'd definitely recommend this place for their Mocha Milkshake. It's so delicious, and I've never had any issues when coming here. I have no comment about their food or food quality, but I really love the atmosphere as a coffee shop. read more

I have visited Stomping Grounds many times and have not once been disappointed with anything. The service, the coffee (or tea), the food, the atmosphere. This is one of the more laid back dining experiences in Ames. To say Stomping Grounds is a "coffeehouse" is an understatement because it's really a whole lot more than that. I would like to say it's morelike a bistro than a coffeehouse, but don't get me wrong - they have great coffee! The coffee list is about like what you'd expect to find at most traditional coffeehouses with some added menu items that set them above. Since visiting there, I have found that I love their Tanzanian Peaberry. Nothing tops that on a cold morning, though because of the variety of offerings it isn't available every day. They like to switch it up pretty often so there's always some new or fresh item to keep you coming back. My favorite of the flavored drinks is what they call "The Awakening." This is a hot coffee drink consisting of espresso, mocha, white chocolate and macadamia nut flavoring. I like it with a double shot. They offer tasty breakfast and lunch specials or "brunch" items on Sundays. I love their turkey pesto wrap or their ham and cheddar melt. For something different (but great) try the chicken curry salad or the turkey raspberry cream cheese sandwich. The breakfast menu offers up quiche, breakfast sandwiches, wraps and oatmeal. Lots of great eats here! The atmosphere is great! The music is usually pretty quiet and there a lots of good places inside (or on the patio) to enjoy your coffee, food and conversation. I will knock one thing - they don't have a sign. It's a bit tough to find if you haven't been there before, but once you've been there you'll keep going back! I highly recommend Stomping Grounds. read more

Oh, Stomping Grounds... you shall always have the very special distinction of being the first place I ever had tea at in Iowa. For this, you have earned a spot in my heart. Why the sentimentality? Two reasons. One, for those of you (all of you) who don't know me, I love tea. Two, I fell in love with Iowa the moment I stepped out of the house and in to the snow my first morning in town. Stomping Grounds is where those two loves collided. As it turns out, they do tea rather nicely here. You are given a small clear pot of steeping loose leaves, a mug, and a strainer. This way you can control the strength and bitterness of the tea yourself. Also, their usage of loose leaves rather than tea bags earned them a few more points from me. I'm not a tea snob; I love it too much to discriminate... but I do appreciate when it's done right. Oddly enough though, my experience with Stomping Grounds actually began 4 months before I ever made it there, by way of a longing account of "Olivia's hot chocolate". Dan described it as both bitter and sweet, and said when I own my tearoom I should figure out a way to serve it. He, of course, had a cup of this upon our visit and let me sample a bit. It reminded me more of drinking chocolate, and definitely left an after taste of both bitter and sweet. I found this to be impressive, but not exactly my cup of tea. My cup of tea was, in fact, a cup of tea. Anyhow, I ordered the seasonal apple butterscotch crepe which came with fresh whipped cream. I'm not a big fan of sweets, so am therefore not the best judge of them... but I found the crepe to be okay. Not incredible. I'd have it again, though, so let that speak for itself. Our server was very accommodating and also kind enough to snap a few pictures of Dan and me. As for surroundings? Well, I'm a California girl born and raised... but looking out from the window at the snow topped trees and sidewalks, it felt like I could have belonged there in Ames. Pretty beautiful. Stomping Grounds, welcome to my list of places to visit again once I'm back in Iowa. read more

See all

Light and crisp flavors make this a great place. Tomato Basil Bisque! It's awesome and my go to on the menu. They just updated their menu and it has some fabulous options. I tried the Ahi Tuna and it was delightful. This place is the perfect place for a girls lunch or for a lunch meeting. Service speed can be hit and miss, but usually you can get in and out in an hour. Overall service is usually good and the food quality is always spot on. read more

Stomping Grounds - Seared Ahi Tuna and tomato bisque - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

The food is delicious. The coffee is good and strong. The business is well run. Good service too. Friendly ambiance.

Great little cafe in Campustown. Fantastic coffee, SUPER friendly baristas, and really cool artwork in the cafe. Five stars. read more

Stomping Grounds - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Stomping Grounds is a hip cafe just south of the ISU central campus on Welch. What a tremendous find this place is, with it's open floor space, European flair and relaxed atmosphere. Stomping Grounds also brings an extra level of quality to their coffee that I have only seen before at Philz in San Francisco: cups of coffee brewed one at a time to order. A little pricey for Ames, at about two bucks and change for a cup, but each is ground and set to drip right into your vessel based on your order. This is a great place for a meeting or a social engagement. It's easy to see why it's an alternative office hours location of choice for ISU faculty who are in the know. The cafe has a generous front patio with dozens of tables and live entertainment when the weather allows. They also have free wi-fi but don't bother searching for an electrical outlet. They are all covered. "No outlets? That's not right!" some of you may say. I say it's a stroke of genius. Bring your net-based work if you must, but when the battery lapses put the dang laptop away. Be social, have some java or a beer and interact with something else besides your illuminated panel. read more

Stomping Grounds - Stomping Grounds' patio. - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Chill place. Got your drinks covered... coffees, wines, and teas.... also has small plates. I like to hang out here and get my coffee fix... it's within walking distance from campus down welch and it really does feel like you stepped out of college town into some quaint european cafe with a patio outside. Not the best coffee but pretty good and a wonderful selection of other drinks, tea and wine included. Their food menu is mostly crepes and sandwiches... and a bit pricey for what you get and where you are. The food definitely tastes like it's been put together in a cafe, and not that delicious. Stick with the drinks and get some reading done, the desserts aren't bad but stay away from the food unless you're famished. read more

Stomping Grounds - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Staff is almost always enjoyable and the outdoor patio is great with nice weather.

My husband's family takes us here when we visit from Seattle and it's been great each time. I can't remember what I ordered two years ago but on our most recent visit, we came here two days in a row. I ordered the sweet butter crepe with eggs and toast and then a side salad. The portion was just right for me and I probably could've done without the salad but I wanted some veggies. I loved the sweet butter crepe! It reminded me of some crepes I used to eat in Hong Kong. The side salad was very fresh and only $2.5? Food is expensive where I'm from so I thought the prices were very reasonable. My husband and I also tried the tomato bisque and it was delicious as well. I ordered a mocha and was quite impressed. While I didn't order the tea, I saw that they had some legit tea on their wall and it came in a glass container with a strainer (not teabags). It's good for large groups and I also see some students scattered about studying there as well. They don't really seem to advertise themselves much so there is no sign outside the buildWill definitely come back. read more

If you are looking for great coffee, Stomping Grounds is your spot and you will probably be satisfied. Plus the name is catchy and pretty clever which I appreciate. There were a few things that could easily be improved to make this place more desirable. First, I found that the food was oddly overpriced. The lemon zest crepe, while tasty, was un-delightfully simple. We ordered a side of fruit that was painfully and almost humorously meager (see photo) for $4. We had a relatively large group and couldn't hear each other talk; when we asked if the music could be slightly turned down, we were told it was not possible. Finally, I know this is something that they have less control over, but it's hard to justify paying for parking at a coffee shop because I would be less inclined to bring work or meet here for a chat. The service is good and friendly too but the rest of the experience was mediocre, leaving some to be desired. read more

Stomping Grounds - Curry chicken salad (back left), lemon crepe - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

See all

One of the best coffee spots in Ames. Calm and quiet atmosphere, despite the fact that it's nearly in the heart of Welch Ave action. read more

Stomping Grounds - House Latte - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa

3.5 rounded down. Got a latte, which was good BUT there are no outlets here. Not sure if they no longer want to be a coffee shop where people can do work, but how can a place possibly block all their outlets. SIGH. read more

A great place to get coffee and the food was good as well. They have a variety of coffee options and flavors and they offer lighter foods like crepes if you just want a snack or full sandwiches and meals. The service was a bit slow but it's a cafe so we were in no rush. Very clean and elegant looking inside and convenient location as it's walking distance from ISU campus. Outdoor seating was great to sit and study... just make sure you're laptop is charged! read more

Stomping Grounds - Bars Near Me - Ames, Iowa